In a week that sees Barcelona in Manchester, Juventus taking on Dortmund and Liverpool’s return to Istanbul, tomorrow night’s match between Monaco and Arsenal might seem like a sideshow, writes David Shonfield.

Pierluigi Collina has probably been the most influential referee in world football, and certainly the most recognisable. Now Uefa’s man in charge of the men in charge, he has been explaining the challenges facing match officials as the Champions League and Europa League reach the knockout stage.

Every transfer window is different; the one just closed has been unique. Not because of the deals that were done, but because of those which have been blocked. For the first time ever, third parties have been excluded from acquiring players’ economic rights, not just throughout Europe but worldwide.

Forget the London clubs. Forget Manchester. Forget Paris, Monaco and Rome. The most significant foreign investment in European football came last week and it’s not Russian, Arab or American but Chinese, writes David Shonfield.